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Party Leaders address NUS National Conference - click here
Click here to find out who the candidates are for your constituency
Are you ready
for this year's General Election?
While Prime Minister Gordon Brown has officially declared Thursday
6 May as the date for the next General Election.
In less than one month’s time you
will have a say on who the decision makers in our country are. Polls are showing that this could be one of the closest
elections in decades. What is certain is that the student vote has never been so important, that is why it is important that
you are registered to vote.
As voters we have the right to know where our candidates stand
on certain issues so we can make informed choices on Election Day. That is why Vote for Students is so important.
We want candidates to know that only if they pledge their support for students can they expect our vote.
The
deadline for registering to vote for the General Election is the 20 April. If you are not registered
to vote you will be unable to have your say on Election Day.
Registering is easy The registration process is quick and easy. All you need to do is fill in the registration form online, print it off, sign it and post to the address provided.
Which
address should I register? You can’t vote twice
in the same election, however students are able to register at home and at their term-time address. Get registered to vote
at home and where you study so that wherever you are on election day, you can have your say.
Eligibility
UK, Irish and Commonwealth students can register to vote in UK elections.
To qualify, Commonwealth citizens must be resident in the UK and either have leave to remain in the UK or not require such
leave. The definition of a 'Commonwealth citizen' includes citizens of British Crown Dependencies and British Overseas
Territories. For more information click here.
 Why should you register to vote?Not sure why you should register to vote? Don’t think it’s important? Registering to vote isn’t
something most people think about outside of election time.
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| Download The Electoral Commission's leaflet on the forthcoming election. |
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There are lots of
myths about
registering,
here’s the
truth.
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Not sure why you
should register to
vote?
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When Students Vote - Apathy Loses There
are about 7 million students in the UK- that’s
about 15 per cent of voters. Just
imagine the weight of the student voice if every one of those students voted – but all too often students don’t
vote – meaning politicians often fail to represent students concerns.
"In order to ensure students
concerns are not marginalised we need to truly mobilise at the ballot box. Concerns about votes @ 16, Adult Education, and
the constant debates about levels of student support in Further Education – with political divides over the Education
Maintenance Allowance makes the general election even more crucial for our members. We cannot allow our voices to go ignored.
As students unions you play a significant role in educating, registering and mobilising your students.
Make sure their voice is heard. Make sure their vote is counted in 2010." - Susan Nash, Vice President Society and Citizenship |
The table below shows the percentage of registered voter turnout for local constituencies at
the 2005 general election.
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TURNOUT %
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ELECTORATE
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Dunfermline
and West Fife |
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70,775
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56.1
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Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath |
58.4
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71,606
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62.1
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62,057
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Remember, students make up around 15% of
the overall voting population across the UK, and in many towns and cities, especially where
there are many FE and HE institutions, this percentage is much higher. You can see the percentage turnout in your area at the last
General Election in 2005. You can also see the number of people who live in your constituency.
If students voted in high numbers
in student areas – we would be able to make a difference to the outcome of the election and make sure that student
issues are taken seriously by candidates in our local area.
It may be the case that many of you at college are not yet
18, so you may not think that registering to vote is relevant to you.
NUS is committed to the ‘Votes at
16’ campaign, and believe people should be able to vote from that age. So, whilst they campaign
with you and a range of young people’s organisations on this issue, they are keen to get people from the age of 16 onto
the electoral register. They want to demonstrate that 16 year olds are ready for citizenship and that they demand
it. They will be lobbying the Government to recognise this demand and will be asking them to count the number of
16 and and 17 year olds on the register.
Electoral registration is fundamental to the democratic process. Citizens
who are not registered are unable to vote. The Speakers Committee in Parliament considers it important to monitor the level
of 16 and 17 year olds included on the register as this increases their likelihood of remaining on the register and then voting.
For more information about the 'Votes at 16' Campaign, click here.
What is NUS asking students to do?
- Register to vote
- Pledge to vote for a candidate who commits to not vote for an increase in fees in the next parliament
- Forward the pledge to your friends and family and ask your local parliamentary
candidates to sign the parliamentary pledge
- Vote on polling day and encourage
your friends and family to do the same.
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